Having to pay for pricey insurance can sap your bank account and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparing cost estimates is free and is an excellent way to cut your insurance bill.
Because you have many choices, it can be challenging to pick the most affordable company.
Shopping for lower insurance rates can be exhausting if you don’t understand the easiest way. You can waste a few hours (or days) discussing policy coverages with agents in your area, or you could save time and use the web to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Most car insurance companies enroll in a system where prospective buyers enter their policy data once, and each company then returns a price quote determined by their information. This eliminates the need for quote forms to each company.
To compare rates using this form now click here (opens in new window).
One minor caviat to pricing coverage this way is that consumers can’t choose which companies you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have a page of low cost insurance companies in your area. Click here to view list.
It’s up to you which method you use, but double check that you are using the exact same deductibles and coverage limits on every quote. If you enter differing limits it will be nearly impossible to determine which rate is truly the best. Just slight variations in insurance coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company’s prices increases the change that you will find a better price. Not every company provides quotes online, so you need to compare price estimates on coverage from those companies, too.
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there’s a good chance there are discounts that you may not know about. Many discounts should be triggered at quote time, but a few must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are just wasting money.
Don’t be shocked that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, nobody gets a free ride.
Popular insurance coverage companies and a selection of discounts can be found below.
Before you buy a policy, ask all companies you are considering to give you their best rates. Some credits may not apply in your area. To locate providers offering insurance coverage discounts, follow this link.
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions might point out if you may require specific advice.
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Understanding the coverages of auto insurance aids in choosing which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are typical coverage types found on the average auto insurance policy.
Comprehensive coverage
This coverage will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as damage from flooding, damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and vandalism. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Collision insurance
This coverage will pay to fix damage to your Silverado 3500 resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as scraping a guard rail, crashing into a ditch and crashing into a building. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.
Liability coverage
Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other people or property. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.
Liability coverage protects against things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, bail bonds, medical expenses, emergency aid and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but consider buying as large an amount as possible.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP pay for expenses for things like dental work, rehabilitation expenses, nursing services, X-ray expenses and ambulance fees. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits, their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.